THE LAST STATION

THE LAST STATION

Leo Tolstoy was, no doubt, the greatest of all Russian authors. I put him over Alexander Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Anton Chekhov because I had his two books "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" on my bookshelf at one time. I never read them, but I possessed them. Like Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" and most other Russian literature it was just too damned long. How many pages is it, 1400 (over 560,000 words)? Even the full length movie is 9-hours long!

If that isn't great, I don't know what is!

Yet, we know of his works and very little about the man. Probably because he lived during the transformation from Russian Czars to the Peoples Republic (communism). In fact, he was part of that revolution. And that is what Michael Hoffman's "The Last Station" is about...those last days.

Christopher Plummer is Tolstoy in 1910 - his health is Kaput. He is, however, very wealthy thanks to Czarist Russia - the very people he now opposes. His wife Sofya is played dutifully by Helen Mirren. She is concerbned that her beloved husband has lost his mind and is going to give his vast fortune to "the peoples movement". If he does that, she and their daughter Sasha (Anne-Marie Duff) will be left with nothing. Friction develops between Leo and Sofya.

To add to the problems is the main character Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy) who is Leo's new found secretary. He is really a spy planted by Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti) who represents the peoples movement and very much wants Leo to leave his wealth to the movement.

Valentin pretty much exists as this pathetic weasel taking notes and gaining the confidence of Leo while annoying Sofya to no end.

But he becomes compromised himself when he meets Masha (Kerry Condon) - the sexy horny chick next door who could really care less about the peoples movement.

What really transpires is an acting clinic by Plummer and Mirren. their performances supersede the plot of the movie.

You will recall moments of Hepburn and Bogart from "The African Queen". A certain on screen chemistry as they emote the tensions between their characters. Indeed Mirren justifies why she is considered one of the foremost actress right now.

"The Last Station" would probably be considered one of the year's best films were it not for the weak performance by McAvoy. I can't say it is because he was weak or that his character was so weak - but clearly the main character should have been stronger.

At just under two hours, "The Last Station" fortunately avoids Tolstoy's length while bringing to life at least a part of this authors mysterious life. Look for recognition in the upcoming awards season for Plummer and Mirren. --GEOFFREY BURTON

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